290 HISTORY OF THE 



The fifhery in the north feas was ftill carried on 

 from Yarmouth and other eaftern ports of England* 

 to a very considerable extent. Veffels of 40 to 60 

 tons burden, fitted out in April, took in expert 

 feamen at the Orkney Iflands, whom they relanded 

 ,on their return, about the end of Auguft. They 

 fifhed for cod with hand-lines, dried and falted the 

 filh in the hold of the veffel. They alfo extracted 

 fome oil from the livers, and generally found good 

 markets both at home and abroad. But it would 

 feem as if fome evil genius had confpired to ruin the 

 Britifh fisheries, on or near their own fhores. The 

 adventurers in this branch wese obliged to pay duty 

 for all fait carried out, that was not ufed in curing the 

 fh, which was found ib oppreffive, that about 15 or 20? 

 years ago r the fiihery was completely abandoned. Thus 

 the third of revenue operates equally to the decay of 

 manufactures, fifheries, commerce, navigation, and 

 confequently thofe nurferies for fearrren en whom the 

 navy chiefly depends. 



Of all the wandering tribe, herrings excepted, the 

 cod-fifh is the moft valuable to mankind. ' This fifb 

 js fond of cold climaoies, and is fuppofed to refide 

 chiefly between the latitudes 66 and 45. What are 

 taken north and fouth of thofe degrees, being either 

 few in quantity, o bad in quality. 



They are found as far north as Greenland, but they 

 are fmall and emaciated ; while thofe taken, on the 

 banks of Newfoundland, beyond the 45th degree, are 

 in high perfection,, and fo numerous as to exceed all 

 power of calculation. 



In Europe they chiefly frequent the co-a-ft of Ice-* 

 land y Norway, the Baltic, the iflands and mainland 

 of Scotland. After paflkig thofe latitudes, they de- 

 creafe in number,, but the indrfry of the Englifh 

 fifhermen y Simulated by quick faleS at the London- 

 market, hath of late years turned their own fhores to 

 good account. The grounds where the white fifb 



